Mojtaba Khamenei appoints veteran military leaders in Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a series of military and political appointments aimed at consolidating the leadership of the Islamic Republic’s core institutions. These decisions focus on reinstating veteran figures from the previous era to stabilize the security apparatus following recent leadership losses.

Key appointments include Major General Ahmad Vahedi as the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with Major General Mostafa Izadi serving as his deputy. Additionally, Hossein Taeb, a former head of the IRGC intelligence unit, has been appointed to lead the Basij paramilitary force. The restructuring also involves merging the General Staff of the Armed Forces with the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters under the command of Major General Ali Abdollahi.

These moves come amid significant regional tensions, including ongoing conflicts, maritime security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations with the United States. The appointments of veteran hardliners like Vahedi and Taeb—both of whom are subject to international sanctions—signal a strategy of internal fortification and reliance on the established security core to manage both domestic stability and foreign policy challenges.